Back at the start of the year, we brought you word of some new additions to the Tissot PR516 collection (you can see that here). We actually hadn’t seen this watch in person before, and were able to get in a loaner of the automatic three-handed version from our friends over at Tissot. Read on for our take on the watch.
Tissot PR516: what it is
The Tissot PR516 is what we like to think of as a basic introduction for someone, both to Tissot (in this case) and Swiss movements. These sorts of watches keep the functionality simpler (here, it’s just time and date), while showing off what these movements can do (80-hour power reserve), and packaging it in a way that can make this be both your nice watch, as well as one you’re happy to wear every day.
With the bracelet version ours came on, it can definitely feel dressier, with those polished center links (and the two-tone version amps it up a notch as well). However, you could easily dress it down some as well, just slip a strap into those 20mm lugs, and you’ve got a different look to it.
Wearing the watch
Sizing the bracelet on the Tissot PR516 was a simple affair, and once I had it on, it was immediately comfortable. That’s the benefit of a bracelet constructed like this, in that it’s able to easily conform to the wrist. Additionally, I didn’t find that the butterfly clasp consumed a lot of space, which kept it comfortable under the wrist.
One of the really great things about the Tissot PR516 is just how usable it is. The white-on-black scheme is legible in all lighting conditions, and the broad handset stands out sharply. Sure, the date wheel is a little smaller than I might prefer, but it was still quite workable.
About that bezel
Looking at the watch, especially with the bezel, you might be thinking it’s a bit of a dive watch, and the bezel can be moved. That, friends, is not the case. The bezel is fixed in place, which keeps the watch a touch thinner. And rather than being a metal insert that will eventually scratch, you’ve got a mineral crystal insert on the bezel. No lume under it, but it’s not a diver, so it’s not necessarily.
This turns the bezel in more of a styling feature on the watch (along with protecting the edges of the sapphire crystal), than functional embellishment. It’ll be up to you if you like the look, or not. For us, it mixes up the look of the standard three-hander steel watch, and welcome the change of pace.
Wrapping things up
As you can see, there’s a lot going for this tiday three-hander, and it makes an argument to be a relatively inexpensive way to get a Swiss movement onto your wrist (or the wrist of whomever you’re gifting this to). As reviewed, the Tissot PR516 comes in at $725 on the steel bracelet. Going for the strap would drop the price to $650, or you can top things out at $795 with the two-tone on the bracelet. There are also chronographs available in the collection; you’re looking at $495 for the quartz version or $1,850 for the automatic. Check out the full range over at tissotwatches.com
Tissot PR516 Tech Specs
- Case
- 38mm tapered case
- Mineral glass bezel
- Sapphire crystal
- 100m WR
- Sapphire crystal with AR coating
- Movement
- Powermatic 80 Nivachron spring
- Exhibition caseback
- 80-hour power reserve
- Dial
- Baton hands
- Super-Luminova
- Bracelet: Interchangeable quick release bracelet
